Frequently asked questions

No.

No, local Healthwatch organisations are accountable to their local authority.

Healthwatch Merton is the new local independent consumer champion for children, young people and adults on health and social care created to gather and represent their views. Healthwatch Merton will play a role at both national and local level and will make sure that the views of the public and people who use services are taken into account. We will ensure the views and experiences of local people are heard.

Healthwatch Merton has been set up by the Council as required by the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Merton Voluntary Service Council (MVSC) has been awarded the contract by the Council to be the support services organisation to Healthwatch Merton.

The Trustee Board will lead in:

1. Establishing credible and professional relationships across health, social care and the voluntary sector.
2. Ensuring that a network of local volunteers is created that is inclusive of all groups, especially those whose voices are seldom heard.
3. Influencing local services to be the very best they can be by providing robust evidence to service providers based on user feedback and experience.

Healthwatch Merton will work with the Public, Voluntary Sector, health and wellbeing board, clinical commissioning group, Merton Council and many others locally whilst also supporting the improvement to health and social services nationally.

Every voice counts when it comes to shaping the future of health and social care, So Healthwatch Merton are concentrating on bringing the voice and influence of local people to the development and delivery of local services.

People need to feel that Healthwatch Merton belongs to and reflects them and the Merton local community. We need you to feel we are approachable, practical and dynamic and able to act on behalf of local people.

Healthwatch Merton are:

1. Helping you to shape and improve the services you use.
2. Engaging with people in your community & if you haven't met us yet, please get in touch!
3. An open organisation and want to make it easy for you to talk to us.
4. Inclusive & we want people from every part of your community to help us.
5. Here to help services to improve.
6. Noticing the not so good things happening, as well as the good.
7. Using your evidence to build a true picture of your local services.

Healthwatch England is a national independent champion for consumers and users of health and social care in England; this includes representing children, young people and adults all over England.

Healthwatch England provides leadership, support and advice to the wider Healthwatch network, including the 153 local Healthwatch’s.

They have powers to ensure the consumers' voice is heard by those who make the decisions. They will tell government bodies and local authorities in England about their findings, and report to Parliament every year. They can also ask the health and social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, to take action when they have special concerns.

Healthwatch England is a partner / subcommittee of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who provide support for services like finance, human resources and procurement. The CQC regulates all health and adult social care services in England.

Healthwatch England has its own 12-person committee responsible for overseeing the independence and delivery of Healthwatch England. They have complete independence to say what needs to be said.

By law the organisations who plan, run and regulate health and social care services have to listen to what Healthwatch England have to say. When they’re made aware of failing services, they will report these issues to key national organisations who must submit a public response to these concerns.

Healthwatch England though can be influential in improving services without the need to use its statutory powers.

Healthwatch Merton signposts people to local health and social care services. We also collect and analyse the experiences that people have of local care to help shape local services. We then feed views and any recommendations to Healthwatch England to act on at a national level.

Healthwatch England works at the national level and uses local experiences of care to influence national policy.

Together, local Healthwatch and Healthwatch England form the Healthwatch network.